On or after Friday, February 6, 2026, contact our travel agent, Lisa Ward, directly by email. Travel Experts will work with you to find the best flight schedule. In the subject line of your email enter: Chemistry Recruitment Weekend followed by your last name. 
In the body of the email be sure to include the following:

Full name as it appears on the ID you will use at the airport.
Name of your departure airport or city from which you are departing
Seating preference
Mobile phone number
Date of birth and gender

Please note, when making reservations use your name as it appears on your REAL ID or passport.

IF YOU FAIL TO MAKE YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS BY FEBRUARY 20, 2026, we cannot promise that we will let you book your flight with our agent or that we will reimburse you for any portion of the cost of a plane ticket you book on your own.

Travel Experts
http://www.travel-xperts.com/
P: 919-846-2544 x341
T: 800-274-2544 x341
F: 919-846-0647
lisaward@travelxperts.com

Your airline ticket will be directly charged to the department so long as you arrange your flight for 3/13/2026 – 3/15/2026 ONLY. Please try to schedule your arrival between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Friday, and your departure between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM on Sunday. If bringing your spouse or a significant other, he/she/they are responsible for his/her/their airfare. Note that if your flight arrives after 4:00 PM on Friday or it departs before 9:00 AM on Sunday, you may be responsible for making your own arrangements for a taxi (Uber or Lyft) or shuttle, and we will reimburse the cost of the taxi or shuttle. You will be responsible for any additional costs associated with your air travel, such as travel to the airport from your home and the return, checked bag fees and parking at your home airport. You will be responsible for any additional lodging, ground travel, and meals if you decide to make flight arrangements that do not coincide with the 3/13-3/15 dates of the Recruitment Weekend.

We will provide double occupancy hotel rooms with roommate assignments at the Aloft Raleigh Hotel located at 2100 Hillsborough Street. If you are bringing a spouse or significant other, you will room with that person. Aloft is conveniently located across the street from main campus. The cost of your hotel room March 13 and 14, 2026 will be paid by the Department of Chemistry.

Additional expenses (such as additional meals, internet charges, movies, your spouse or significant other’s additional expenses, etc.) incurred at the hotel are your responsibility, so be prepared to leave credit card information with the front desk when you check in.

Do not contact the hotel about your room. The Graduate Office will contact you with the name of your roommate once everything is finalized.

Guests: Spouses or Significant Others ONLY
The Recruitment Weekend is designed for prospective students to learn more about the department and the area. We understand that some of you have spouses or significant others who would also like to see the area, since your move affects them as well. Be advised that we have limited accommodations and we can provide lodging for only a spouse or a significant other. Here is a list of direct costs to your spouse or significant other and events where he/she is welcome:
Airline ticket – Guest may book with our travel agent but is responsible for COST OF OWN TICKET.
Guest Meals– Guest is responsible for cost of ALL MEALS.
Free-form after-hours events (not on formal schedules) – you and your guest should plan accordingly if you wish to participate.

Suggested Attire
The dress code is casual for all events except the Saturday dinner event with the faculty, that is professional casual attire.

If you drive to Raleigh, we will reimburse you up to 500 miles roundtrip according to the current IRS standard mileage rate. This reimbursement will require you to complete a PaymentWorks registration and a Travel Expense Reimbursement Request for Visitors found at the bottom of this page (Google Form). 

Once you determine you are attending Recruitment Weekend and will be driving, you can email Jackie Hughes to send you a PaymentWorks registration – this process could take up to 2 weeks.

For questions on completing the Travel Expense Reimbursement Form, contact Jackie Hughes (jlhughe3@ncsu.edu).

The Department will pay for parking at the Aloft Hotel for Friday and Saturday and will be prearranged based on your responses to the RSVP form in your Invitation Email.